Which ocean liners made useful carrier conversions?

Which First World War ocean liner was most suitable for conversion into an aircraft carrier?

Liners such as the ship converted into Argus had useful speed and volume, but converting the best liners sacrificed ships that were also exceptionally valuable for moving people and cargo quickly.

Argus and other liner-derived ships show why fast passenger hulls were attractive carrier candidates. Their speed also let them move troops and goods with less reliance on a convoy, sometimes beyond the reach of contemporary submarines and torpedoes. Converting the best liners therefore removed some of the most valuable merchant ships from transport service. Carrier conversion competed directly with a high-priority wartime mission.